In 1990, the Fremont Arts Council launched an art competition whose partial goal was to rehabilitate the area under the bridge, which was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. The piece, built later that same year, won the competition.

The Troll is a mixed media colossal statue, located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge (also known as the Aurora Bridge). It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle, as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above. The vehicle has a California license plate.[1]

The Troll is 5.5 m (18 ft) high, weighs 6,000 kg (13,000 lb), and is made of steelrebar, wire, and concrete.[2] He is interactive—visitors are encouraged to clamber on him or try to poke out his one good eye (a hubcap).

The artists have chosen to exercise their copyright to control commercial use of Troll images. All commercial use of The Troll's image must first have permission in writing from the artists.[10] Postcards, beer, and other products approved by the artists are commercially available, and use is free to non-profit organizations.[11]